Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-19

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below gives information about the percentage of the population in four Asian countries living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with predictions for 2030 and 2040. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

 

Student answer (Band 5.0)

The line graph illustrates the proportion of the population in Philippines,Malaysia,Thailand, and Indonesia living in cities from 1970 to 2020, with projections for 2030 and 2040.

Overall, the percentage of the population in four Asian countries rose gradually over the whole period. Malaysia is higher than other three cities in last year.

In 1970, the population of Philippines was almost 31%, Malaysia was 30%, Thailand was around 19% and Indonesia with lowest percentage around 13%. Malaysia's population grew rapidly from 1970 to 2040, reaching its peak in last year with approximately 80%. Between 1970 and 1980, Philippines' population increased slightly from 31% to 32% and rose sharply until 1990. Philippines will around 54% in 2040.

Indonesia' population increased significantly from 13% to 60% with 2 times intersected with Thailand and and Philippines. In 1990, Thailand has around 30% population and increased slightly between the year 1990 and 2020. After 2020, sharply increased in the population of Thailand with 49% in 20140

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the chart’s subject and include an overview, noting that urban populations generally rise and that Malaysia is highest at the end. You also report several relevant starting figures and describe Malaysia’s strong growth. However, the overview is too broad: the Philippines does not rise steadily, and its share falls after 1990 before recovering. Some comparisons are unclear or inaccurate, especially the claim that Indonesia intersects Thailand and the Philippines twice; the data show it catches Thailand around 2000 and later overtakes the Philippines, but not twice with both. The final year is mistyped as “20140,” and the response is 144 words, below the required 150. Add a clearer overview and accurately compare the main trajectories.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs of figures and trends. This gives the reader some organisation, and time markers such as “In 1970” and “After 2020” help locate information. However, the progression is uneven because the country trends are mixed together, and the final paragraph moves from Indonesia to Thailand without a clear transition. Some linking is repetitive or awkward, as in “increased significantly … with 2 times intersected,” while “Malaysia is higher than other three cities in last year” does not clearly express the comparison. Grouping the countries by trend or describing each series in a consistent order, with clearer links between comparisons, would make the account easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “proportion,” “projections,” “grew rapidly,” “increased slightly,” and “reaching its peak.” These choices show an adequate range for describing changes. However, several expressions are imprecise or unnatural and sometimes obscure the intended meaning: “Malaysia’s population” suggests total population rather than the urban share, “other three cities” misidentifies the countries, and “2 times intersected” is not a natural way to describe lines crossing. There are also word-form and spelling problems, including “Indonesia'” and “20140.” Use precise terms such as “urban population share” and standard comparison language, and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more developed sentences, including the opening sentence with a time range and the clause “reaching its peak in last year.” However, control is inconsistent, and several sentence patterns contain errors that make parts difficult to interpret. For example, “Malaysia is higher than other three cities in last year” has problems with articles and the comparison structure; “Philippines will around 54%” is missing a verb; and “After 2020, sharply increased in the population of Thailand” lacks a clear subject and uses an incomplete construction. Tense choices also shift between past and future without a consistent pattern. Practise complete subject–verb sentences and use past tense for recorded data and future forms for projections.

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